New materials lead to significant system cost reductions as compared to high heat resins

16-Jul-07

DSM Engineering Plastics will demonstrate how its portfolio of materials can lead to significant system cost reductions in comparison to high heat resins such as PPA, PPS, PEI and PEEK at K 2007: Arnite XL PET is an interesting alternative to PPA, PPS and PEI in so-called AFL/DBL Frames, since it offers significantly lower system costs compared to PPA, PPS and PEI, improved dimensional stability compared to PPA owing to a lower moisture absorption and the highest specific stiffness compared to PPA, PPS, PEI and PBT The combination of characteristics allows for the optimization of the design and/or subsequent system cost reductions. Arnite XL PBT is excellently suited for bezels in automotive lighting, since it is more cost effective than PC-HT, has more dimensional stability than PPA and PA66, produces fewer mould deposits - which help to reduce cleaning & scrap rates - and it has less outgassing when compared to other PBTs. Arnite XL is therefore able to propose the lowest system costs with a very low outgassing/volatility behaviour for automotive bezels. Akulon Ultraflow PA6 for PPA replacement The highly glassfiber reinforced Akulon Ultraflow PA6 grades combine excellent flow characteristics, great surface appearance and high stiffness levels. This combination makes these grades ideally suited to replace expensive PPA materials selected for specific applications which require stiffness and strength at relatively low temperatures (below 100 C). Examples where Akulon Ultraflow 50%GF replaced a PPA are air ventilation lamellae, a door lock mechanism and back support part of a chair. In all cases not only the material costs per part, but also processing costs per part were reduced substantially as a result of the faster cycle times of Akulon Ultraflow compared to PPA. Stanyl PA46 in PPA, PPS, PEI, PEEK replacement One of the main features of Stanyl PA46 is that as a result of its unmatched crystallinity of 80 %, it retains its stiffness at temperatures above 100?C up to 290?C. In combination with the material's extremely good fatigue resistance, this means that Stanyl PA46 can deliver much lower system costs whilst offering greater freedom of design than other high heat resins such as PPA, PPS, PEI and PEEK.